Kumar's Blizznog

Play the Game

2012-01-26T23:40:00.003-05:00

This post originally ran in Cold As Ice, the column I write for Popblerd.The NHL is in the annual mid-season lull known as the All-Star break. It’s a time for the league to celebrate itself with a skills competition, fan festival and of course, the All-Star Game itself. There’s just one problem: The NHL All-Star Game sucks.The game is designed to highlight the best players in the NHL, but it

Completely Conspicuous 211: Keep Hanging On

2012-01-23T19:20:00.006-05:00

Part 3 of my conversation with special guests Nick Lorenzen and Mike Piantigini as we discuss all things rock. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").The show notes:- Biggest regrets of missed live bands- Daltrey's voice lasted longer than many peers- Jay drops a Frank Frazetta reference- Sabbath reunion- Does metal work if you're 60?- Springsteen and

I'm Watching You

2012-01-21T13:18:00.004-05:00

This winter's been a dud from a snowfall standpoint. We're in the middle of a "storm" right now that's dropping a couple of inches of the white stuff on us, but we'll still be under 5 inches for the entire winter so far. Which is fine, but the girls are excited and are out playing in the backyard. They're old enough now (7 and 9) to play outside around our house unsupervised, although I'm

Completely Conspicuous 210: Live and Dangerous

2012-01-16T15:49:00.006-05:00

Part 2 of my conversation with special guests Nick Lorenzen and Mike Piantigini as we discuss Boston's live music scene. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").Show notes:- Mike still goes to many rock shows- The scene's rebounding, more new clubs- Nick did not pogo at recent Superchunk show- Nick and Mike saw Paul Westerberg's first solo show- Myspace

Non-Zero Possibility

2012-01-12T18:56:00.004-05:00

Without a doubt, the biggest hubbub in the music industry the last few weeks has been the return of Van Halen with David Lee Roth. Not just to play a hits-laden, uber-lucrative tour (which they did a few years ago), but with an actual new album, VH's first with Roth since 1984.This is where things can get dodgy for reunited bands. Sure, they can set the world on fire with a concert tour or even a

Completely Conspicuous 209: Physical Graffiti

2012-01-09T21:14:00.006-05:00

Part 1 of my conversation with special guests Nick Lorenzen and Mike Piantigini as we discuss the impending death of the CD. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").The show notes:- Mike hosts Clicky Clicky Radio on Boston Free Radio every Thursday- Physical media is disappearing from store shelves- Rarely buy CDs anymore- Digital music sales overtook CD

Language City

2012-01-05T18:05:00.003-05:00

This piece originally ran in Cold as Ice, the hockey column I write for Popblerd.It’s hard out here for a pimp. It’s even harder if you’re the new coach of the Montreal Canadiens and you can’t speak French.The Habs (aka “Les Habitants”) are the NY Yankees of hockey, with more Stanley Cup championships (24) than any other team by far (Toronto is next with 13). The franchise’s storied history is

Happy New Year, Dear

2012-01-01T20:16:00.003-05:00

Man, another new year is here. Judging from the Facebook and Twitter statuses of many people, 2011 didn't go so well. I can't say it was awful for me, although having to spend the last three months rehabbing an injury was no fun. But it was great to see my daughters continue to do well in life and school and sports; in the end, that's all that matters to me. From a personal standpoint, my job

Completely Conspicuous 208: The Final Countdown

2011-12-31T09:13:00.005-05:00

Part 3 of my conversation with special guest Jay Breitling as we look back at the best rock music of 2011. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").Show notes:- Kumar's #2: Sloan- Band's 20th anniversary- Jan. 26: New Music Night with Breitling and Brad Searles at River Gods in Cambridge, Mass.- Breitling #1: Johnny Foreigner- No overlap on our lists-

Turn It On Again: Best albums of 2011

2011-12-30T09:06:00.004-05:00

Editor's note: I've already explored my best of 2011 albums list in abbreviated form for Popblerd and in much more depth with Jay Breitling on CompCon (listen to parts 1 and 2; part 3 will be up tomorrow night). But here's my top 15 of a particularly strong year for rock music.2011 was packed with a lot of negativity, from the economy to the political rhetoric that continues to scrape rock bottom

Time of the Season

2011-12-29T10:28:00.002-05:00

It's funny how the meaning of the holidays changes as you get older. When you're a kid, all you're concerned about is what you're going to get (from Santa, your parents, whoever). As you get into your teens and 20s, you've got the added pressure of having to buy gifts for your loved ones, but you still have anticipation for what you will receive. When you get married and have kids, you're more

Completely Conspicuous 207: Add It Up

2011-12-26T12:51:00.007-05:00

Part 2 of my conversation with special guest Jay Breitling as we look back at the best rock music of 2011. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").The show notes:- Breitling's #7: The Hush Now- Clicky Clicky and Ash Gray Proclamation co-present live show on 1/14 with Hallelujah the Hills and The Blue Dress- Breitling: Yuck is so-so live- Kumar's #7: Buffalo

Shooting to Thrill

2011-12-23T16:48:00.003-05:00

This piece originally ran in Cold as Ice, the hockey column I write for Popblerd.In any pro sports league, you’ve got debates brewing over rule changes and inconsistencies. In baseball, the American League’s adoption of the designated hitter rule in 1973 is STILL hotly contested by purists. The NFL changed its kickoff rule this season to increase the number of touchbacks (in the name of player

Foolin'

2011-12-22T17:36:00.003-05:00

Thanks to a surplus of vacation days, my Christmas break has officially begun. As I was working from home this afternoon, Def Leppard's "Foolin'" popped up on my iTunes and flashed me back to one of my first experiences of playing in a band. It was exceedingly brief but also very memorable...to me, at least.My parents were always pushing me to take on different activities, mostly designed to

Completely Conspicuous 206: Hits of the Year

2011-12-19T17:40:00.006-05:00

Part 1 of my conversation with special guest Jay Breitling as we look back at the best rock music of 2011. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").Show notes:- Of new additions and beer- Revisiting our beer discussion of episodes 133 and 134- Trends in 2011: The return of the '90s- Bands reunited, new bands echo '90s influences- Imminent death of the CD?-

Here and Gone

2011-12-13T22:17:00.003-05:00

As many times as I've been to wakes, it never gets easier. On Sunday, I attended the wake for Kirk, a guy I played hockey with for several years. He died last Tuesday after having a heart attack while playing pickup hockey. He was 51 and leaves behind his wife and three young daughters.I hadn't seen Kirk in probably four years because I started playing hockey closer to home. From '98 until about

Completely Conspicuous 205: The End and Everything After

2011-12-12T20:52:00.005-05:00

Part 3 of my conversation with special guest Matt Phillion as we discuss movie remakes. Listen to the episode below or download it directly (right click and "save as").Show notes:- Still going over bad remakes- Jay: The Shaggy Dog with Tim Allen- The original Disney movies were good- Kurt Russell's the man- Matt: Sabrina with Harrison Ford- Harrison Ford should not do comedy- Ashton Kutcher in

Change It

2011-12-08T19:32:00.003-05:00